With the grandchildren outside playing, Lettie called all her children into the parlor. Seyborn moved the small lamp table to the center of the room and placed several sheets of paper upon it. He began to read aloud and as he went down the list, one by one, he looked directly at each of his brothers and sisters. "Cliff, you will receive the first house Mother and Jeffrey lived in at Cross Hill, the home where you were born and it also being the same home where you and your wife now live. Fannie Marie, you will receive the store building which originally belonged to your father. Elizabeth Ann, this home where Mother now lives, will go to you since you have the largest family. Ben, the law office goes to you. Wilbur, the publishing company goes to you. And Seththe farm where Bessie and Sam live will belong to you. As for me, since Montgomery was my birthplace, I'll receive the house on Harrington Street left to Mother by Mr. Hopkins. I plan to keep the place in good repair should Mother decide to move back there to live. All property will be appraised for value and Mother plans to supplement money to equalize each transfer."
As Seyborn read her last request, he spoke very distinctly. "Regardless of where Mother decides to live, she does expect to be returned here for burial beside her first husband, Jeffrey."
Letties eyes moved quickly around the room. She watched as surprise etched its way across the expression of her children. It was Elizabeth Ann, her usual gentle daughter who sprang to her feet. Almost in a screaming voice, she said, "Mother, how could you want to be buried beside anyone except Father? If you hadn't intended to be buried beside him, why did you have him taken so far away?"
Taken aback, Lettie was slow to answer. How could she explain? Only she and Will knew about his tortured soul. It had been their secret. To explain might tarnish the admiration they felt for their father. Yes, he had been their father, all seven of them. Hed given up his home in northern Alabama for her--and them. If he could speak to them today, hed tell them gentlyits the way I would have wanted it and hed not want them to know his reasons.
"Elizabeth Ann!" The sternness of Seyborn's voice was jolting even to Lettie. But Elizabeth Ann, quickly responded with a voice that grew angrier with each word, "You can stand there Seyborn, wanting Mother to be buried next to Jeffrey because he was your father, but my father helped raise you and you should feel some respect for him.
Then she turned her anger upon her mother. Mother, your age must be preventing you from making sound decisions. I will tell you now, you will be buried beside our father and thats final." No one else said a word and Lettie was hurt beyond speaking.
Seyborn's eyes came across the room looking directly at his Mother. Only a brief minute passed, but it seemed more like an eternity before he turned back to face Elizabeth Ann.
The tone of his voice changed from firmness to anger. He spoke as with clinched teeth to hold back words he'd rather not say. "How mighty you feel, Elizabeth Ann, that you've never felt the pain of growing up without a father. I have few memories of Jeffrey, but I do remember the war years without him and I can tell you lying awake in a cold attic, hoping the Yankee's wouldn't burn the house down was worse than being without a father. I was eight years old when Mother married Will and a boy couldn't have asked for a better father. If Will were alive today, he'd be ashamed of you, Elizabeth Ann. He took special care to be sure we all knew he loved us the same. As for Mother, yours and mine, she's made many sacrifices for us. There are many things you don't know and will never know. You can't begin to understand, because Mother has tried to shield all of us from unhappiness. Ill not question her decision. She has as much right to decide for herself as she does to breath."
As Seyborn continued to look directly at Elizabeth Ann, his eyes burned hot as steel. "And you, Elizabeth Ann are never to raise your voice and speak unkind words to our Mother again. Make no mistake, if Mother wants to be buried next to Jeffrey, then by God's will, she'll be buried there and I'll defend her request with my life if need be!"
With that said, Seyborn turned and left the room. A hushed silence equal to shock held everyone silent. Never had anyone heard Seyborn speak with such fierceness, such damnation of duty, and meaning every word he'd said. No one dared utter a word, least of all Elizabeth Ann.
Lettie went to the front porch. She needed time to herself. Elizabeth Anns words had hurt, but then she also understood. Elizabeth Ann was her fathers daughter, natured in many ways like him, but she had also inherited her mothers stubborn nature. Her words had come from the heart of a disappointed girl.
Seyborn had taken a walk, probably down to the creek where hed spent many carefree hours as a boy. He needed time to himself also, but soon he'd be back.
Nearly an hour passed before Seyborn returned to sit beside her. He was calm now, but there was also a painful silence about him. Lettie could feel it, and she understood why he was hurting.
It was she who broke the silence with a voice that gave no indication of the struggle behind what she was about to ask. "How long have you known, son?"
"I first knew Jeffrey wasn't my father when I was eight years old."
"Who told you?"
"No one, Mother. Remember the night you made your decision to marry Will? You had your bible open to the family record page. As I stood beside you, I saw all that you had written there. Later I slipped back to read it again. I wanted to be sure I wasnt mistaken. It was back then that I first came to realize there hadn't been enough time for Jeffrey to be my father."
"I never meant to hide the truth from you, son. Jeffrey helped bring you into the world. He loved you so much, it didn't seem fair to remind him that you didn't belong to him. I should have told you, but at that time it seemed best you not know."
"It's all right Mother. I never felt unloved if that's a comfort, but there's always been that empty space of wondering."
"And do you know?"
"I think I do."
Lettie said nothing, but waited for Seyborn to speak his mind.
"When Jeanne and I first started courting, we talked a lot, but every time I looked at her father, that empty space inside me seemed to call out. You never made it a secret you were from South Carolina and when Jeanne told me she was born near Westmore, I began to wonder. Many times I wanted to ask Godfrey if he had known you back at Westmore, but something always stopped me. I think a part of me was afraid to know. You see, mother, by the time I had it figured out, I was very much in love with Jeanne. His eyes grew soft at the mention of Jeannes name, yet there was a sadness also.
We were so much alike, me and Jeanne, and we fell in love almost immediately. When she suddenly left town without saying goodbye, it all came together. I'll never ask you the why's, but Mother, do tell me if I'm wrong."
It wasn't a quick response, but a slow trembling voice filled with pain that confessed. "No son, you aren't mistaken."
"Did you love him, Mother?"
"Deeply."
"He couldn't marry you, could he?"
"No. I was very young and he already had a wife."
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